[The content of catecholamines in the adrenergic plexuses of the spleen and intestines during cold and emotional stresses].

The content of catecholamines in adrenergic plexuses of the spleen and small intestine of rats has been studied histochemically using a computer analysis. It is shown that the content increases both during the short-term cold and emotional stress. Intraperitoneally administered guanethidine (10 mg/kg) does not prevent cold-induced accumulation of catecholamines in these adrenergic plexuses, but the emotional-induced one remains. Putative mechanisms of the catecholamine accumulation in the splenic and small intestinal adrenergic plexuses during different stresses are discussed. It is suggested that the cold stress induces an increase of the catecholamine synthesis in adrenergic terminals of prevertebral ganglion neurons, whereas emotional stress leads to the catecholamine uptake by adrenergic terminals from the blood.